March 06, 2017
You may be familiar with the popular fitness tool, the foam roller, found in most gyms and physical therapy practices. (Hint: it looks like a pool noodle.) What you may not be familiar with are its many applications. I know I wasn’t.
I stumbled upon this new information as I was reading an article about trends in self-care and recovery. It explained that while many people used foam rollers for self-massage, to roll out tight muscles after strenuous training, there are a growing number of people who have transformed their bodies with this unassuming device.
In fact, one star in the fitness industry has built a foam rolling empire. Lauren Roxburgh (Lo Rox as she’s called) works with some of the world’s top athletes and celebrities, named the “Body Alignment Pro” by Vogue, dubbed “The Body Whisperer” by Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop.com and named one of the “Hottest Trainers in America” by Shape Magazine.
With a degree in nutrition and physiology and certifications in structural integration, pilates, personal training and yoga, her background more than qualifies her as an expert in the field. Couple that with a book titled, “Taller, Slimmer, Younger – 21 Days to a Foam Roller Physique,” I was sold instantly.
Faster than I could order my $50 foam roller (yes, she has her own line) I was furiously scrolling through her book preview on Amazon.com, trying to get an idea of what the 21-day program entailed.
In short, it's a dynamic program for body and mind, crafted by a certified body alignment expert and A-list instructor.
During the 21 days, a different 10-minute routine is detailed for you, with the exception of one rest day. The first 10 days are meant to focus more on the physical, whereas the second set of 10 days focus on the mind.
At the end of the 21 days, you can choose to proceed cycling through the 21-day program or you can listen to your body and simply choose from the glossary of exercises located in the book as you see fit.
The moves are said to tone, tighten and yes, even lengthen your body. Also, in rolling out your muscles, harmful toxins are released and pains or blockages that could result in premature aging and injury are alleviated.
I am currently in my first 21-day cycle. I have already experienced instant relief from using the foam roller and I plan to continue incorporating this technique into my daily routine. Who knows, maybe I’ll even get taller.
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I hope these tips help you as much as they have helped me. I will continue to keep you posted on my health journey. Follow me for updates @christiemandia.
